The St Louis Battlehawks will be losing an All-League player for the 2023 Season. Channing Stribling a former All-USFL player and veteran of Five football leagues is returning to the USFL after being drafted by the Battlehawks in November. Yesterday, the Philadelphia Stars announced via Twitter that Channing Stribling would be returning to the team after putting together an All-USFL season in 2022.
Stribling has bounced around Five NFL Teams, the AAF, the XFL 2.0, and the CFL before being drafted by the Battlehawks. Stribling led the USFL with Eight Interceptions despite playing in about seven games, earning a contract with the Commanders for 2022 training camp. Despite a decent showing in camp, Stribling was cut on August 24th. He’s so far earned $108,800 via spotrac through his NFL career.
Stribling becomes the 5th to be drafted by an XFL team to “choose” the USFL over their selected XFL team. He also becomes the 5th USFL player to return to the USFL after leaving for the NFL as well. Over the span of his Alt-League career he’s amassed 44 tackles, 1 sack, and 9 interceptions in 18 regular season games.
Stribling also becomes the third Battlehawk defensive back to “depart” for another league, as the team has lost D’Angelo Ross to Tennesse and Nate Meadors to Pittsburgh. Stribling who almost seemed like a shoe in to start at cornerback for the team, opens up competition at a position which looked to be a “lock” coming into 2023. For Stribling his departure to the USFL may come down to the fact that he felt more comfortable in Coach Miller’s scheme rather than Defensive Coordinator Donnie Abraham’s scheme in an effort for him to give him one more shot at an NFL opportunity.
Stribling at 28-Years old, is likely at the point where his NFL window is likely closing. The decision to join to the USFL over the XFL, was hopefully one that was managed and calculated to the point that is the best for his career moving forward. For the Battlehawks moving forward it creates an opportunity for another defensive back to earn a chance to garner playing time and even make the team in 2023. With the recent “drafting/allotments” of alumni academy it is possible that the Stribling’s replacement could be a diamond in the rough.
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